The Wolf River Conservancy’s 2025 Year in Review

Dear Wolf River Conservancy Friend,

As we close the book on our 40th anniversary year at the Wolf River Conservancy, I am deeply grateful for all that we have accomplished together in 2025. What began in 1985 as a small grassroots effort to save the Wolf has grown into a sustained, four-decade long commitment to protecting land, water, and wildlife across the Mid-South. This year, that commitment translated into real, measurable, and impressive impact right here in our community.

In 2025 our lands department worked to conserve 1,429 acres through land transactions totaling $4,625,508. This is the most in a single year since the saving of the Ghost River in the mid 90’s. Every one of those acres represents healthier wetlands and forests, stronger habitat for wildlife, and essential protection for the Memphis Sand Aquifer.

Equally important is what we do with the land already under our care. This year our land stewardship work included:

• 2,674 trees planted to restore forest cover, stabilize soils, and improve habitat.

• 12,710 pounds of trash and tires removed from riverbanks, floodplains, and riparian corridors.

• 31 acres of invasive plant species removed, giving native plants and wildlife the opportunity to thrive and preserving the natural heritage of our region.  

These incredible numbers represent cleaner water, healthier forests, and more resilient landscapes for all of us.

Because this was our 40th anniversary year, it is also a moment to step back and look at the cumulative impact that you have helped create since 1985. Over forty years, the Wolf River Conservancy has completed $36,077,091 in land transactions protecting 21,544 acres in the Wolf River watershed.

Through our land stewardship efforts across those four decades, we have:

• Planted 74,325 trees.

• Removed 173,790 pounds of trash and tires.

• Removed 340 acres of invasive plant species.

Taken together, these numbers tell a powerful story. They show that persistent, com conservation can reshape a landscape and safeguard a watershed over time.

On the Greenway side of our work, 2025 has been a year of exceptional progress. Construction is under way on more than 4 miles of the Critical Link phases of the Wolf River Greenway, which will connect Kennedy Park to the Shelby Farms Greenline. These miles of trail are not only recreational amenities. They are safe routes to schools, parks, and jobs. It’s new access to nature for historically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and a visible sign that these communities matter.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of time, energy, and talent from our volunteers and supporters. In 2025, 1,238 volunteers contributed 3,944 volunteer hours in the field, at events, and behind the scenes. From tree plantings and cleanups to outreach tables and education programs, those volunteer hours are the heartbeat of our mission.

We also worked hard to connect more people than ever to the Wolf River and the Greenway. This year we hosted 35 community events, and through programs, paddles, walks, educational outreach, media partnerships and online content, we reached a combined audience of 101,874 unique participants and viewers and created more than 1.3 million impressions across our social media channels. We’re committed to growing the next generation of conservationists. That means each interaction is an opportunity to help someone see the Wolf River not just as a feature on a map, but as a living system that shapes our quality of life, our health, and our future.  

So, what comes next? Our 40th anniversary has been a celebration, but it has also been a reminder that our work is far from finished. Development pressures continue to mount. Our wetlands and aquifer need vigilant protection. Our community still needs safe, equitable access to green space and clean water.

The good news is that we know what works. Strategic land protection, careful stewardship, strong partnerships, and engaged community members can change the trajectory of a watershed. You have helped prove that over the last forty years and we’ll be doing even more in 2026.  

As we step into year forty-one and beyond, I invite you to stay with us on this journey. If you have donated, volunteered, or just told a friend about the work we do, thank you for your trust and support. Together, we can ensure that the Wolf River remains a clean, healthy, and vibrant resource for all who call this region home.  

Thank you for all you have done to make 2025 such a success, and for all you continue to do for the Wolf River Conservancy.

Sincerely,

Erik Houston

Erik Houston, Executive Directormunity-driven

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